The 2004 East Coast Freeskiing Open produced by FREEZE Magazine kicked off today at Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, Vermont with the qualifying rounds of the men's Superpipe competition. This year's event features the biggest names in men and women's freeskiing in three disciplines Superpipe, the Saab/Salomon Crossmax Series, and a nighttime quarterpipe event with a $20,000 purse divided up among each category winner.

With a storm expected to bring a few inches of snow making its presence known, the three heats of competitors gave it all they could in the wind and poor visibility to try to make it to the next round. The freshly cut Sobe Superpipe held up well as Vermont locals and seasoned pros launched themselves off the walls in order to impress the judges and the crowd. Each one is trying to earn a spot on Sunday competing against high-profile skiers like JP Solberg, Peter and Michael Olenick, and David Crichton.

The talent pool at the competition is surprisingly young. The youngest competitor is eleven-year-old Stowe local Duncan Adams, while the oldest competitor is a mere twenty-four. 90% of the entire talent roster is under the age of twenty. The skill level has far exceeded expectations after only one day of competition and will without a doubt rise with each day that passes.

"Our theory that the East Coast holds amazing halfpipe skiing talent was confirmed today," said Michael Jaquet, director of marketing for TransWorld Media, the parent company of FREEZE magazine, "We are extremely pleased at the great start the event has gotten off too and are eagerly waiting for the rest of the weekend to unfold. The courses are in excellent shape, with good flow and sturdy construction."

The top eight from each heat today will move directly into Sunday's high-stakes heats. Complete results for the preliminary Superpipe rounds of the East Coast Freeskiing Open include:

Men's Superpipe (Top 24 Advance ) 1.Matt Philippi, Sugarloaf, ME 13. Max Carpman, Marshfield, M 2. Ryan McPherson, Marshfield, MA 14. Mike Clarke, Lake Placid, NY 3. Brady Lee, Manchester, CT 15. Ryan McDermott, Freeport, ME 4. Noah LaBow, Jeffersonville, VT 16. Colby West, Canterbury, NH 5. Rafe Robinson, Truckee, CA 17. Simon Lavigne, Mt Tremblant, CAN 6. Chris Giuliano, Milford, CT 18. Zac Visco, Nantucket, MA 7. Jonathon Smith, Jeffersonville, VT 19. Chas Waters, Chicago, IL 8. Bobby Trnavsky, Erie, PA 20. Andrew Napier, Cornwall, VT 9. Tim Maney, Hartland, VT 21. Dan Kiesel, Waterville Valley, NH 10. Drew Jodice, Simsbury, CT 22. Ryan McGuire, Mooresville, NY 11. Sean Collin, Truckee, CA 23. Sean Logan, Baldwin, NY 12. Sean Decker, North Salem, NY 24. Devon Fenske, Medford, NJ

East Coast Freeskiing Open Day One

The 2004 East Coast Freeskiing Open, produced by FREEZE magazine, begins Friday, March 12 and concludes Sunday, March 14. With competitors from all over the globe and a course similar to that found at the world-renowned U.S. Freeskiing Open held in Vail, Colorado, the East Coast Freeskiing Open promises to establish itself as one of the premiere events on the freeskiing calendar. Sponsors of the East Coast Freeskiing Open include Saab, Salomon, Okemo Mountain Resort, Mountain Dew, and FREEZE Magazine. For more information and for media registration, please visit transworldmatrix.com/ecfo.

FREEZE�, based in Oceanside, CA, is published by TransWorld Media�, a division of Time4 Media�, the world's leading publisher of leisure-time magazines. Time4 is also leading publisher of young men's magazines through its' TransWorld Media Teen Group of titles which include: TransWorld Snowboarding�, TransWorld SKATEboarding�, RIDE BMX�, TransWorld SURF�, TransWorld BMX� and TransWorld MOTOcross�. Time4 Media is a subsidiary of Time Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX).

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Contact: Kristin Cusic, Freeze Magazine (760) 722-7777 x230 (office) (760) 809-5870 (cell) Kristin@twsnet.com

Pam Cruickshank Okemo Mountain Resort (802)228-1947 pamc@okemo.com